Tape dispensing apparatus and moistening means therefor



June 20, 1944. T. R. GAUTIER 2,352,150

TAPE DISPENSING APPARATUS AND MOISTENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 20,1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. R. GAUTIER 2,352,150 TAPE D-IsPENsING APPARATUSANDMOISTENING MEANS THEREFOR June 20, 1.944.

Filed July 2o, 194s 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 20, 1944- T. R. GAUTIER2,352,150

v TAPE DISPENSING PPARATUS ADMOISTENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 20,1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www Wam..

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June 20, 1944. T. R. GAUTiER TAPE DISPENSING APPARATUS ANDMOISTENING-MENSl THEREFOR Filed July 2o, 1945 4 'Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedJune 20, 1944 UNITED STAT TAPE -DIsPE'NsING APPARATUS AND Mois'rENINGMEANS THEREFOR 4 Claims.

V.j My present invention .relates to machines and apparatus foradhesively conditioning and delivering lengths of iiexible stripmaterial for package sealing, labeling and other purposes. Moreparticularly it aims to provide in strip servers, tape dispensers andlike devices of the class referred to improved initial or accessoryequipment for insuring the desired application or coating of themoistening fluid under different voperating conditions, subject toselectivev but predetermined control by the operator.A -In certainrespects the present invention presents a further and improvedembodiment ofthe generic subject matter of my copending applicationvSerial No. 419,1-11, iiled November 14, 1941.

In the drawings illustrating one embodiment the present invention by wayof example:

1 is a side elevation of a gummedtape dispenser or strip serverincorporating the improved means of the invention, a

. -Fig. 2 is aplanlof the Fig. 1 machine,

'} Fig, 3 is a corresponding front elevation with parts in verticalsection,

4 isa longitudinal verticalvsection of a forward portion of the machine,A .vrFig. 5 is an isometric vie-w of ademountable moistening and-liquid-level-controlling unit, such asthatofFig. 1, and L L 6 is asideelevation partly in section of a portion of the assembly of Fig.y 5,. 1

' Referring tothe drawings in more detail, the machine as a Whole hereselected for the purposesl of illustration vmay be understood as similarin general to those for example of my Patents Nos. 2,082,733 of June 1,1937, Des.l 111,568 of October 4, 1938, 2,13 8,47 4 of- Novem-ber 29,1938, 2,192,132 of LFebruary 27,. 1940, 2,290,041 of July 14, 1942, andothers of this .general class. It comprises a housing havingspaced :sideframes I with appropriate crossconnection; as at 8 in Fig. 3, outer endsof other `cross-'membersfbeing apparent in Fig. 1.;. At :its rearportion the housing is Aadapted to support-a istrip or tape supply inroll form, asinv theV well or ,basketS having a movable top cover I0,Fig. 2.-

The tape or strip material from the supplyroll isy advanced pastsevering and moistening mechanism and delivered at the front of themachine.

In', its forwardf travel it is directed as by. lower' and upper guidesIII2 (Fig. 4) to and between lower Aand upper .feedwheels or rolls I3,I4, vone oi'which,;herein" the lower roll I3, is driven.

.,Forwardly beyond the feed means the tape is moved zpast severing orcut-off mechanism, Figs.

Trevork R. Gautier, Nashua, ass'ignortol:

Nashua Gummed and Coated Paper Company,

corporationv of 'Massachu- Application Jfilyo, 1943, serial 10,495,456

I5 and IB, -thelatter pivotally supported as -at Il lon a stationarypart such asa lateral extension of the fixed blade.

Thefeeding and the severing means are vactuated from an operating lever20, Figs. k1- to 3, through connections and drive gearing which may beassumed as generally similar as in one or another of the patentsmentioned. Such operating mechanism is disposed in part in alateral.compartment 22 on the right side frame and vhaving a detachable sidecover plate 23, Figs. 2 and 3. The operating lever 20 has a forwardfeeding motion and Opposite non-feeding'return motion along a slot as at23a between'the gearing compartment and its cover plate. The cutterbladeU I B, normally clear ofthetape path also is actuated bytheoperating lever 20 in a manner to cutoff the selected length of tapefollowing stoppage of its forward movement, either by vfurther forwardmovement'of the `operating lever or in association Withits returnmovement. V y I Referring particularly to 1if5 s.3 and 4, the tape'i'.ravels,v gummed face down, toV and past moisture applyingmeanscomprising an absorb,-Z lent or capillaryapplicator, herein aninverted brush 25, anda vertically opposed guiding and presser elementv,26 shown as a freely rotatable verticallymovable roller or rollunitjournaled between supports on the side frames, one of which is'seen at2l in Fig. 4. The tape path between the severing means I5, I6 and themoistening means is defined as by an underguide 28, Fig. 4, and acooperating top guide 29, Fig.` 3, adapted for lifting to expose thetape path when desired. -The brush moistener'25 is removably positionedin agtank or reservoir 30 comprised in-the liquid supplying and levelcontrolling equipment with which the invention is more ,particularlyconcerned. The brush is disposed with-its upper free end in moisteningrelation to-the underface of the tape, being vheld in ygenerally uprightor forwardly inclined position as by across support 3l which isinterrupted or apertured to admit liquid to the brush-holding portionofthe tank 30. Beyond the moistening elements proper the tape may issuedirectly from the machina/ or it may be further guided and supported fordelivery in instances suchras illustrated wherein the brush or other-applicator is locatedfsomewhat rearwardly of the. extreme foreend ofthemachine In such case a delivery guide or platform may be'providedforwardly of the moistener, herein fthe outer top cover plate 32-removably 1. 3:-and;4,xinc1uding1xed andmovablefblades: 55; secured tothetankas by SCJflIVS'f3`nl Fig- 2.' and having longitudinal ribs 34along which the moistened tape is delivered.

Conductive moisteners such as the inverted brush 25 are subject toconsiderable variation as to the quantity of moisture conducted to andheld available at their applying end, depending on the level of theliquid in the brush chamber. Also, under different atmosphericconditions, likewise with different types and weights of tape, it isdesirable at times to apply more or less moisture than at others. For agiven set ,of operating conditions there is a certain approximate`optimum level for the liquid in the tank or reservoir such as 30.

ditions.

The present invention provides improved means adaptable to any machineofthe 'class described for accomplishing the foregoing relsult, in suchmanner that the operator will have availableafplurality of. differentklevels for ,the liquidVany one of which may readily .be selected at willand each of which .is positively ,nonvariably predetermined, as forexample low, :medium andv high levels,eachof which individually isalwayszthe same and'iszmaint'ained uniformly at its .precalculatedheight. That is, the Jinvention insures `thatinfshifting .for example asbe tween --akhigh Ilevel and a medium level,A the adjustmnt' is.compulsorily such that the `predetermined mediunillevel, say `1% inchesor whatever has been determined as appropriate, -always is' affordedunder thek fmediu'm adjustmentof the-parts, and similarly as to eachother available setting.l Y I The liquid-level control vand maintenanceunit or" assembly is illustrated separately in Figs. 5` and Brandinainstalled position in Figs. 1 to 4. It comprises, in combination withthe tank 30 and its brush 25, Aan auxiliary liquid supplying and levelcontrol chamber or tank 40 adapted for attachrnent at a convenientrlocation upon the given machine 'fra-me or housing,Vv on the' outerface of theleft side frame 1 inthe illustrated example. Thiscontrol tankis cast,- ymoulded. or-;otherwise formed Aof suitable materialto presenta troughlike compartment closed at tlie'bottom4 and open at the vtop asat 4I'. 'It is of a shape andsize to conform tothe general design oflthe particular machinefand to receive and adjustably support ininverted position a container for-reserve liquid, suchrastherflask orbottle 42, Figs. 1 Ito 3 and Fig. 6. The auxiliary tank-V40 andthe-.container or flask/42 are/relativelyproportioned for seatedpositioning `of the latter in the manner substantially-as illustrated,the flask being held laterally between the side Walls of the auxiliarytank .40 and'resting in one` or another of the selectivelyavailable-inclined positions against the appropria'tely slanted tankrear wall 43.

'The auxiliary compartment or tank .40 is detachably-associated with themachine frame in a manner adapting it for `ready removal and replacementas a unit together with the brush moistener -tank 30. For this purposethe auxiliaryl tank is provided with front and rear winglike projectionsor iianges44`, 45, each having a hook or hanger.` formation .46, 4l forseating on pins, bosses or the like projections'48, 49, Figs. 1 and` 2,extending laterally from vthe side frame l. Lateral spacing andpositioning formations or.bosses.may.be provided vat the outer face ofthe inner isidev Wallof the tank 40, .one `of vwhich is seen attua,Fig:.5,.for vguiding and positioning Such level should-be continuous:and uniform for the durationof, the given conf ,to 4, on its Walladjacent the side frame upon -y which the auxiliary tank 40 is to bemounted,

this b oss :being near the bottom of the brush tank 3l),v at a positionbelow the lowermost liquid level to be maintained. An angular tting or`elbow54is tapped into this boss 53 of the brush tank 30 and projectslaterally and rearwardly from the latter.` Its rear end is tapped forreception of a threaded -member 55 to which the forward end of theflexible tubular connection 52 from the auxiliary tank is attached.

As previously indicated, the main or moistener tank 36 isitseliremovably4 held between thejside framesl, Where it is supported ononeofz the cross members8,.Figs. 3. and 4', and upon lateral projectionsat the inner faces of the frames, `one of .whichappears at 'la .in Fig.4. It is secured againstv unintentional forward displacement asby'spaceddepending members 35, 36 adapted to straddle the crossfmember8. Thus it is evident that theiiexib'ly connected doubletank assembly isconstitutedasa unit, as shown separatelyffin Fig. 5, for installationand removal for cleaning,` replacement and other purposes. Suchmanipulation of the lassernbly'iunit is fguickly accom'- plishedmerelyby tilting and withdrawing' the moistened tank with its containedbrush anddisengaging the auxiliary tank by. lifting itiifom its hangermembers 48, 49. Y w.

While the tubing connection to the main or brush tank 30 maybe made atlany convenient lower point thereon, and may b'e extended below throughor'outaroundl the adjacent portion-of the side frame, the entireycoeperative relationof this assembly unit to the .machine and its-hou's ing is facilitated by the provision Aof.arearw'ardly extendingreceiving and positioning recess and seating formation on the sideframe, as represented at 10,'Fig, `l. As there shown, saidfforlA mation10 serves to guide and 'Support-151i@ lbw 54, while permitting it andthe Ltank 30 vto beinserted or withdrawn by a substantially straighthorizontal sliding action',said formationbei'ng'bf somewhat greatervertical extent than the elbow 54, radequateto permit-the slighttiltingy ofithe front endV of the .tankifor releasing litzfrmthe crossmember 8, FigA. i l s best seen in -liF-ig. 6, noting also Figs.1 to 3,the. auxiliary tank 4l]V incorporates means ifr' controlling .the liquidsupply from the container or ask'42 to said tank .and .thence to.thenioistener tank 30, to alford any. selected one ofxan availableplurality of predetermined ilevels.A

- For this purpose theauxiliary tankMl carries a plurality of controller.or positioningformations,`xed stops vor the-.llike, eaclfiadaptedfseVlectively to set the container or flask 42 .to deliver its liquid to` a.corresponding .diierent butv predeterminedly'standardized level. Inthe.illustrat-Y ed embodiment these .formations `are presented by-a ange.or web 60 integrally or4 otherwise formed in` the auxiliary tank .40.atits lowerfiorward .portion and .-extendinglon'gitudinallytsubstantiallycentrallyof the tank. It includes'atfits front end`a--plurality, .herein-two, inverted/"V- shaped ngers orstops-16|,"62lat.-diierentflevels and directed upwardly and to the rear,fer-cop,-

eration with the mouth of the flask or container ft2. Below the lowernger 62 is a recess 63 havford the corresponding relatively low liquidlevel.

As indicated by the dotted line positions in Fig.

6, the ask 42 may alternatively be positioned with the lower orintermediate stop or finger 62 projected into its mouth, thus supportingthe ask at a correspondingly higher intermediate level. Further, thepair of stop fingers GI, 62 are so proportioned and located relative tothe flask mouth that the latter may be set down over both of them, in afurther elevated position, to afford a corresponding higher and hereinmaximum liquid level. Additional similar stops may be provided ifdesired.

These levelcontrolling positioners, herein comprising the projections6|,.G2 and the recess formation E3, B4 may be numbered or otherwiseidentified for ready reference in instructions to be supplied theoperator as to the appropriate setting for the given operatingconditions.

Where, as here illustrated, the container tank such as 40 is flexiblyassociated with the main or moistener tank as 30 and is detachably en-Jgaged with the particular machine in the manner of an accessory, it isadapted for installation upon existing machines of different types, andis equally available as original equipment- Its detachability furthermakes possible the interchangeable installation of different capacitiesof level-controller tanks and associated containers, as may beappropriate to dierent uses of a given machine.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereofillustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in myfollowing claims.

Iclaim:

1. In gummed tape dispensing apparatus, in combination, a housingincluding side frames and a support for a tape supply, feeding and guidemeans for the tape, a moistener tank removably mounted between forwardportions of the housing frames, a moistener therein presented inmoistening relation to the guided tape, an auxiliary tank adapted fordetachable mounting on the housing in liquid feeding relation to themoistener tank, interengageable members on the housing and the auxiliarytank for so mounting the latter, liquid conduit means including flexibletubing and end fittings at the respective tanks communicating betweenlower portions of the lat ter, an inverted open-mouth liquid containeradjustably positioned in and by the auxiliary tank, and positivepositioning formations at different heights in the latter for verticallyadjusting the container to release its liquid at corresponding diierentpredetermined levels.

2. A moistener assembly unit for gummed tape dispensers, comprising, incombination, a tank for liquid to be supplied to a moistener operativelydisposed therein, said tank adapted for insta1- lation on suchdispenser, a structurally separate open-top trough-like auxiliary tankfor reserve Cil liquid for maintenance of the liquid level in the 70moistener tank, external tubular fittings at lower portions of the tanksand respectivelyvopening into them, a flexible tubing connection havingits oppositeends attached to the respective iittings, a flask-likeliquid container removably supported in and by the auxiliary vtank withits mouth-end down, a plurality of positioning formations fixed atdifferent levels in the auxiliary tank below its top and selectivelyengageable with the containerfpredeterminedly to adjust it for releasingits liquid at corresponding different levels, and attaching means on theauxiliary tank for securing it in upright position on the tape dispenserin operative association with the moistener tank.

3. In gummed tape dispensing apparatus, in combination, a housingincluding side frames and a support for a tape supply, guide meansdening a pathfor the tape, a moistener tank, supporting means on theside frames for removably mounting said tank below a forward portion ofthe tape path, a separate auxiliary tank for reserve liquid for uniformylevel maintenance purposes, said auxiliary tank having a top portionopen to atmosphere and receiving an inverted open-mouth liquid-supplycontainer, means in the auxiliary? tank for locating such container withits mouth at different selectively available predetermined discharginglevels, interengageable positioningl members on the auxiliary tank andan outer portion of a side frame of the housing for detachablyassociating them to present the auxiliary tank inliquid supplyingrelation to and rearwardly spaced from the moistener tank, conduit meansincluding a separable tubing element and front land rear end ttingstherefor affording communication for liquid from the auxiliary to themoistener tank, the front end fitting comprising an angular tubularelement, and a forwardly open transverse recess leading from a frontportion of the auxiliary-tank supporting side frame for slidablereception of said conduit means and adapting the latter and the tanks tobe installed or removed as an assembly unit.

4. A moistener assembly unit for gummed tape dispensers, comprising, incombination, a tank for liquid to be supplied to a moistener operativelydisposed therein, said tank adapted for installation on such dispenser,an open-top troughlike auxiliary tank for reserve liquid for maintenanceof the liquid level in the moistener tank,

means for removably mounting said auxiliary tank on a tape dispenserrearwardly of the first tank, conduit means interconnecting the tanks attheir respective lower portions, a flask-like liquid container adaptedfor removable support mouth-end-down in the auxiliary tank, andcontainer-engaging means in said auxiliary tank afffording a pluralityof predetermined positive adjustedv positions for the container mouth,respectively at different levels in the auxiliary tank below its top andselectively available for releasing liquid from the container to thetank at said levels, said means including a finger shaped and yproportioned to provide a supportingl seat for a peripheral portion ofthe container mouth thereby to locate the latter at a selected adjustedposition.

